Wouldnt it be good if there is a die hard TF fan working for hasbro???

[G1Optimal]

i don't know if this Promotional video from Paramount helps or not...

25 Years of Transformers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhlSI...layer_embedded

[GoktimusPrime]

Oh god... that's from the DVD special features. I was bitterly disappointed with that. What really made me mad about that video was how that Hasbro guy described people who enjoyed Transformers as children and are now rediscovering them as adults as "long time dedicated fans." So what about fans who started collecting Transformers from the very beginning and never stopped? I don't object to them mentioning new "born again" adult fans, that's fine... but it made me sad to think that after a quarter century's worth of loyalty, dedication (and money) to this franchise we didn't even get so much as a single mention... Gee, thanks for nothing Hasbro.

It also doesn't really give us much insight at all about the actual full 25 years' worth of Transformers history. I was hoping it'd be like some kind of actual documentary about the history and evolution of the brand, focusing on what Transformers was like year by year (as briefly summarised in this video but of course done in much greater detail), but it was nothing of the sort. It was pretty much like early G1, movie franchise, old 80s fans, new kid fans, born again adult fans... and that was ALL. This franchise has endured for a quarter century and that was all they could do?!? (o_O)

I didn't expect a video that claims to look at 25 years' of Transformers to only cover "Gee-Wun" and the movie and pretty much nothing else. :/ Most disappointing special feature ever!

[kup]

I think that the feature speaks volumes of the mentality that Hasbro executives currently have of the franchise.

The reason why we do still get some cool stuff is because several of the designers seem to be well informed or long time fans who don't just limit themselves to 'gee-wun' and Bayformers as their only source of inspiration. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the people higher up in the chain.

[5FDP]

I agree with you 100% on this Goki. When I heard that there was going to be a '25 years of Transformers' featurette on the DVD I was more excited about this than watching the movie again.

When I bought it the first day it was out, I rushed home to watch it with my wife. Approx. 15 mins later I turned to her and said "What the hell was that??!" 25 years of Transformers... I think not.

They put less than the least amount of effort into making that and what content there was, was pretty lame. I can't say that I am suprised though given that Michael Bay has a huge amount of input into the DVD release as well.

[5FDP]

I can't say that I am suprised though given that Michael Bay has a huge amount of input into the DVD release as well.

Just to clarify this statement before people start thinking that I have contradicted myself here, you don't know what you don't know, and Michael Bay was only recently put through 'Transformers School' in preparation for the first movie so I'm not directly blaming him for the lack of content.

I would have liked to see more involvement from Hasbro in creating a documentary style '25 Years of Transformers'. What we have is a shameful plug for the recent movies (which is comical considering chances are you wouldn't be watching it if you hadn't bought the DVD already), with some G1 tacked on which feels like an after-thought.

[GoktimusPrime]

you don't know what you don't know, and Michael Bay was only recently put through 'Transformers School' in preparation for the first movie so I'm not directly blaming him for the lack of content.

Yeah but I think if you really care about what you're doing and want to dedicate yourself to doing the franchise justice you would consult people who have a deep knowledge and affection for the lore (i.e.: fans). That's what Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio did when they wrote Beast Wars and it's also what J.J. Abrams did with Star Trek (i.e.: as Roberto Orci is a Trekker).

It doesn't mean that you have to listen to everything that fans tell you... in fact you would be choosy in terms of which fans to listen to and which ones to ignore (i.e.: you'd have to pick fans who are genuinely giving constructive criticism and advice and not just blindly hating on anything different to Gee Wun). I think that the movies could have been better if Bay had put more effort and dedication (and caring) about the TF franchise.

I don't want to say that Bay is a lazy or undedicated director because that's not true. When I watch the special features you can see that he is a very active and passionate director who does care about getting good results (according to his standards), and I do appreciate the tireless effort that he's put into these movies and there have been a lot of good things that have come from it (as Jhiaxus pointed out well)... but I think the movies could've been better if Bay had applied the same enthusiasm for the Transformers franchise.

I'd like to see Bay treat the Transformers themselves as people (characters) and not just giant f***ing robots. Still... I prefer the Bay movies over Pat Lee's G1.